Page 56 of Her Forever SEAL

I’ve got a lock. Three block radius.

Lettie bent down over her phone. She was typing in something. Mary fished out another phone from her pocket, and waited. Lettie looked up. Mary nodded. She said something fast, then she got up, and took one step back toward the counter. Lettie got up so fast, her chair tilted and almost fell to the floor. She grabbed the back of Mary’s blouse.

“Wait!”

Half of the coffee shop patrons looked up and stared. Mary turned around, furious.

“Sit back down.”

Mary sat.

Sophia knew that Lettie was demanding to know the specifics on when and where she would get Bree back. Apparently whatever Mary had said before hadn’t been enough.

Good for Lettie.

Mary talked fast, now keeping her face pleasant, like she was trying to mollify an upset customer. She finally stood up. “The next cup is on the house,” she said as she smoothed her apron and moved back behind the bar.

Lettie got up and turned, spotting Sophia.

“Sophia, I didn't know you were here.”

“Yep. This is a nice surprise. Is everything sorted?” She smiled, and let her eyes move briefly, naturally, to Mary.

Mary was looking at her. Not surprised. Almost as if she’d been aware of Sophia’s presence from the beginning.

“Walk out with me?” Sophia asked Lettie.

“Sure,” Lettie said.

She glanced back at Mary. “Thank you.”

“Always.” Mary's voice was warm. She looked at Lettie, then let her gaze travel to Sophia and settle there without hurry. “I hope you'll both come back later today. We're doing a zucchini bread.” The warmth stayed exactly where it was, not shifting by a degree. “You should try it, Sophia. It's wonderful. Better than anything else I've found at any other bakery.” A small gracious smile. “No offense.”

“None taken.” Sophia smiled back. “I'll keep that in mind.”

She put her hand lightly on Lettie's arm and they walked out together.

They walked out without talking until they'd cleared the coffee shop window. Then Lettie let out a long exhale. It was the sound of someone who had been holding their breath for a very long time.

“I got to see Bree,” Lettie said. Her voice was just above a whisper. “Bree. She looked scared, but she was talking. She said the date. She said she was okay.” Her throat worked. “She looked right at the camera and she said she was okay.”

Sophia kept her hand on her arm.

“She held up,” Lettie said. “She's holding up.”

Sophia steered her gently around a crack in the sidewalk the way you did with someone who wasn't watching where they were going. “She is absolutely her mother's daughter.”

Lettie made a sound that was almost a laugh. Not quite. But almost.

They stopped at the corner where their cars were in opposite directions. Lettie looked at her.

“She knew who you were,” Lettie said. “Mary. She knew exactly who you were, and that you were there waiting for me.”

“Yes.”

“She’s going to check the files. I have to come back to the coffee shop. If her people are satisfied, she’ll tell me where to pick up Bree.” She stopped and stared at Sophia. “Are the… Are you absolutely positive that the files are good enough?”

“Absolutely, Lettie. I wouldn’t screw with Bree’s life. Just like I wouldn’t with Kayla’s.”